PARTNER CONTENT: Some firsts will always be special – quite like last Sunday, when Brunch by Secret hosted its inaugural event. The setting couldn’t have been more fitting: Valgerand Nordic Grill, right on Mamsha Al Saadiyat’s beachfront, where the winter light hits the water just right, and the breeze finally returns to the city.
Guests were welcomed into the warm, effortless energy that Secret Abu Dhabi is known for, elevated even further by live music from Nina, whose vocals and instrumentals softened the space and set an elegant golden-hour mood.
It paired seamlessly with the panoramic sea views, a reminder of why Mamsha brunches always hit differently once the weather turns.
But the day’s true centrepiece was the brand-new Nordic Table Brunch menu, a concept that feels refreshingly unique in Abu Dhabi’s brunch landscape.
The experience unfolded course by course, starting with cold sharing starters: the Nordic bread basket with egg spread and beetroot pesto (a must-have when you visit!), a crisp garden salad, tomato carpaccio with local cheese, and the subtly smoky haddock omelette.
It was a gentle, balanced start, exactly the kind of Nordic simplicity Valgerand Nordic Grill does so well.
From there, the table dived into ocean flavours: smoked salmon on potato rösti, herb-forward salmon tartare, Normandy Fine de Claire oysters, and a classic tiger prawn cocktail, fresh, clean, and coastal.
Bites from the parrilla open-fire grill arrived as part of the appetisers: succulent beef, salmon, chicken, and octopus skewers, each kissed by smoke and bursting with flavour. And somehow, with views of the sea in the background, every bite tasted even better (trust us, you’ll know exactly what we mean).
Guests then selected a main course from a generous line-up. Options included smoked grilled beef, a lightly smoked beef burger, grilled sea bream with smoked eggplant, Nordic fish & chips, and corn-fed grilled chicken. Vegetarians were equally well looked after, with dishes such as charcoal cauliflower and a beautifully balanced vegetable quiche.
Like all memorable meals, this one ended on the restaurant’s signature note: the Chef’s Sweet Surprise.
Drinks were just as thoughtfully crafted. The soft package featured refreshing signatures like Wild Forest, Midnight Sun, and Nordic Grass. Those opting for the house package indulged in mixed drinks such as the Viking Voyage, passion fruit martini, Aperol spritz, margarita, and a full selection of house spirits – keeping the afternoon effortlessly vibrant.
For Secret Abu Dhabi, this brunch marked more than just a new event. It signalled the beginning of a brunch series built around community, collaboration, and showcasing unique culinary concepts across the capital.
Judging by the energy on the terrace, the empty plates, and the sea of smiling guests enjoying Nina’s melodies, this first brunch at Valgerand Nordic Grill did exactly what a debut should do: set the bar, and set it high.
If this is how the journey begins, the next brunches promise to be even more exciting. Watch this space for updates.
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